"Gretl in der Stauden" (approximate translation: "Maggie in the bush") - that is the Austrian name for this flower. It is based on the legend of an unfulfilled love. Gretl, a rich farmer's daughter, had to renounce her love for the landless cottager son Hans by order of her father. After being consumed with longing for one another, they were turned into flowers. Gretl became "Gretl in der Stauden", Hans became a flower that we call "Hansl am Weg" (approximate translation: "John by the wayside", blueweed).
In English, the flower shown is called "love-in-a-mist". It has modest demands and is robust against diseases - despite its delicate appearance. It is avoided by snails.
@tonygig@casablanca How nice, you have this flower in your garden too. In my flower meadow they bloom in white, pink and blue. I think this flower is magical.
you have managed to portray a tenderness and sadness here that befits the story. It is such a lovely flower and if it is avoided by snails, then I should go and plant some now!
Ahh, we too have what we call Love in a Mist (nigella damescena) but I like your Austrian name for this flower much better, after reading the back-story. We grow it in our garden too.
@golftragic A nice thought: two people looking at the same flowers in the garden - something like that connects two points on earth in a peculiar way that couldn't be further apart...
@helenhall It would be really nice if my picture could trigger something like that in you - to plant this flower in your garden... It comes in many shades of colour: blue, white, pink. In groups they seem quite pleasant.
Thank you for your nice comments!
I really like this flower.
Thank you for your nice visit!